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HB 4697MICHIGANSession 2025-2026State Billpassed both

Passed

Michigan HB 4697 modifies eligibility rules and background check requirements for guardianship assistance payments

Original title: Children: guardians; eligibility for guardianship assistance payments; modify.

Last action · May 20, 2026: REFERRED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLESponsors: Stephanie Young and 27 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

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What This Bill Would Do

Michigan HB 4697 updates the eligibility criteria and approval processes for prospective guardians to receive guardianship assistance payments on behalf of eligible children. The bill establishes mandatory criminal and background checks for prospective guardians, s, and all adults living in the home, while clarifying funding distinctions between federal and state-funded assistance.

Why it matters

Changes the legal standards and background screening mandates required for prospective and s seeking state or federal financial support for child placement.

Background

The Guardianship Assistance Act governs financial assistance provided to eligible individuals who become legal guardians of children leaving the foster care system. context

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Prospective guardians

Prospective guardians must satisfy updated residency and background check requirements to be approved for guardianship assistance payments.

Directly affected

Successor guardians

Successor guardians are subject to mandatory background and central registry checks and must meet eligibility criteria to receive assistance payments.

Directly affected

Eligible children

Eligible children and their non-eligible siblings may be placed in approved relative guardianship arrangements with assistance payments authorized on their behalf.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the residency requirement for a prospective guardian to qualify for assistance?

The eligible child must have resided with the prospective guardian in their residence for a minimum of 6 months before the application for guardianship assistance is received by the department.

Who must undergo a background check under this bill?

Criminal record checks and child abuse and child neglect checks are required for the prospective guardian, all s, and all adults living in the guardian's or successor guardian's home, including fingerprint submissions to the state police and FBI.

What happens if an eligible child has a sibling who is not eligible for Title IV-E assistance?

The child and their sibling may be placed in the same relative guardianship arrangement, and -funded relative guardianship assistance payments may be paid on behalf of each sibling if agreed upon by the department and the relative.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently passed both. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.

Procedural history

15 actions

May 20, 2026SenateCommittee
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
May 20, 2026SenateCommittee
REPORTED FAVORABLY WITHOUT AMENDMENT 5/19/2026
Apr 21, 2026SenateCommittee
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
Apr 21, 2026SenateFloor
PASSED BY HOUSE WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT
Apr 16, 2026House
transmitted
Apr 16, 2026HouseFloor
passed; given immediate effect Roll Call #114 Yeas 101 Nays 3 Excused 0 Not Voting 6

Show 9 earlier actions

Apr 16, 2026HouseFloor
read a third time
Apr 15, 2026House
placed on third reading
Apr 15, 2026HouseFloor
read a second time
Feb 24, 2026House
referred to second reading
Feb 24, 2026HouseCommittee
reported with recommendation without amendment
Jul 1, 2025House
bill electronically reproduced 06/26/2025
Jun 26, 2025HouseCommittee
referred to Committee on Families and Veterans
Jun 26, 2025HouseIntroduced
read a first time
Jun 26, 2025HouseIntroduced
introduced by Representative Rep. Stephanie Young

Version history

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